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loginChanges to housing support
21 May 2026.
The Government has announced changes to our support for housing, including prioritising social housing for people with severe problems accessing private housing, and bringing subsidies for social and private housing closer together.
These changes are part of a multi-year programme to reform the social housing system, to make support fairer, better targeted, and more focused on encouraging independence.
The initial changes are part of Budget 2026.
Social housing needs assessment redesigned
The social housing needs assessment will be redesigned to focus more on severe and persistent barriers that people face when trying to access private housing. These barriers include supply issues, selection bias, and challenges such as mental health or addiction issues. People's ability to afford housing will remain relevant to the assessment, but if it's their main challenge, they will be considered to be best supported through a subsidy (like the Accommodation Supplement) rather than a social house.
More information about this, including when the assessment will be changed, will be available later.
Accommodation Supplement rate increase
From 1 April 2027, the maximum rates of the Accommodation Supplement for all areas will rise between $10 and $30 a week.
How much the maximum rate rises will depend on people's circumstances, including where they live and the size of their family.
Temporary Additional Support maximum rate reduction
From 1 April 2027, the maximum rate of payment for Temporary Additional Support (TAS) will drop from 30% to 25% of the relevant main benefit.
This change will not apply to people getting NZ Super or a Veteran's Pension.
Contribution increases for Income-Related Rent, Emergency Housing and Transitional Housing
From 1 April 2027, the minimum Income-Related Rent social housing tenants pay will rise from 25% to 30% of their assessable income.
The contributions people in emergency or transitional housing make will also rise from 25% to 30% of their assessable income.
For social housing tenants, the change will be phased in within 12 months of coming into effect. This will be either at the time of a tenant's annual review or their next change in circumstances, whichever comes first.
More information
You can find the full details of this announcement on the Beehive website:
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development’s website also has more information about the Review of Social Housing: